Farm
Business Development Scheme
The FBDS is a business
development scheme designed for farmers and their immediate
family members. The scheme is funded by the Scottish Executive
Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD).
The FBDS can provide
grant assistance toward the development of new diversification
enterprises or the expansion of existing diversification enterprises
either on or off farm. Projects must have the potential to
increase the overall income for applicants and should be self
sustaining.
To be eligible,
you must have been actively involved in agriculture for a
minimum of two years as either an owner occupier or tenant.
The scheme is open to full or part time farmers running an
eligible agricultural business, and is also open to immediate
family members residing on or adjacent to the agricultural
unit.
For
up to the minute information on this subject visit Grants.
The maximum grant
assistance is £25,000 per eligible business, except
for collaborative projects which have a maximum level of assistance
of £30,000. Applicants may submit more than one application.
If approved, project awards will be aggregated and restricted
to the maximum available to the eligible agricultural business.
The level of grant
awarded to non-agricultural diversification projects is up
to
50%. Diversification within agriculture is restricted to a
maximum grant rate of
up to 50% for projects within Less Favoured Areas (LFA’s)
and up to 40% in non LFA's
In addition to
capital grants, approved training for successful projects
may be grant aided at a rate of up to 50% of agreed training
costs.
Agricultural
Processing and Marketing Grants Scheme
Assistance may
also be available for farm businesses towards the processing
and marketing of agricultural produce.
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